(Apr 02, 2012) On March 26, 2012, it was announced that the United States, Mexico, and Canada have completed the implementation of an agreement whereby these countries, along with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), collaborated on the conversion of fuel in a Mexican research reactor from highly enriched to low enriched uranium. (Press Release, The White House, Office of the Press Secretary, Trilateral Announcement Between Mexico, the United States, and Canada on Nuclear Security (Mar. 26, 2012).)

The effort will extend the time that Mexico's reactor can operate with low-enriched uranium fuel, which makes it eligible for continued collaboration with the IAEA. In addition, use of this fuel allows Mexico to potentially increase the reactor's output, improving its capacity for medical and industrial isotope production and nuclear physics research, among other capabilities. According to a press release issued on the occasion, Mexico is contributing to non-proliferation by the conversion of the reactor, as this project supports the objective of limiting the use of highly enriched uranium for civilian purposes. (Id.)

The Global Legal Monitor is an online publication from the Law Library of Congress covering legal news and developments worldwide. It is updated frequently and draws on information from the Global Legal Information Network, official national legal publications, and reliable press sources. You can find previous news by searching the GLM.